Lawmakers Put Finishing Touches on Spending Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — After weeks of secretive work, senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill are trying to put the finishing touches on a $1.1 trillion spending bill that would put last year's budget battles to rest.

The goal is to finish writing the mammoth measure this week in anticipation of House and Senate votes before a Jan. 15 deadline to avert another government shutdown. The bill fills in thousands of details across the approximately one-third of the federal budget devoted to the day-to-day operations of federal agencies.

It follows up on the budget pact negotiated by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state.

A fresh battle over increasing the nation's debt limit looms next month, however, even as the threat of a second government shutdown fades.